Agency May Attend London Parley if Talks Are Based on Jewish State, Dr. Wise Says

September 8, 1946

New York (Sep. 6)

The Jewish Agency may still attend the London conference on Palestine, provided the discussions are based on the establishment of Jewish statehood in Palestine, Dr. Stephen S. Wise today told a press conference following his return from Paris where he attended the meetings of the executive of the Jewish Agency. He added that “few if any self-respecting Jewish organizations or individuals will attend the conference, if the Jewish Agency absents itself.”

In reply to a question, Dr. Wise said that the “Agency has not forwarded any partition plan to the Mandatory power. Under certain circumstances, it might become necessary for the Agency to consider, at the instance of the Mandatory, such a partition which will re-establish Jewish statehood, that is to say, a viable Jewish Palestine in an adequate area,” he added.

Dr. Wise explained that the meetings of the executive were held in Paris instead of London because it was feared that David Ben Gurion, chairman of the executive, would be arrested by the British if he set foot in England.